Please join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an informational event to help providers, facilities and people with Medicare prepare for the end of the COVID-19 Public …
Vaccines Are Not Just for Kids by Amy Sgueglia, MSN, RN, MAIC Facilitator, JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. The COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccine have underscored the importance …
By Charles W. Redd, MS, RN As we continue to move towards normalcy since the pandemic, which began in the United States in March 2020, I am often asked by …
By Jennifer Griffiths, PharmD, RPh When COVID-19 struck I was working at a small, independent pharmacy on Martha’s Vineyard. We have only one hospital which has three ICU beds and …
A Pharmacist Reflects on the Opportunity to Protect the Public’s Health Read More »
COVID-19 has changed healthcare in many ways and has delayed chronic disease management for many patients. Patients needing follow-up appointments for their chronic disease were not able to schedule appointments …
Partnering Beyond COVID-19 Prevention and Management of Patients with Chronic Disease Read More »
by Rosie Bartel, patient advisor As a patient who has a compromised immune system due to healthcare acquired MRSA, I decided to get the bivalent vaccine. My reason was that …
A Patient’s Perspective: Bivalent Booster Offers Another Layer of Protection Read More »
by Janice Tufet, Medicare beneficiary On March 1, 2020, I had just finished a two-day Complex Care and Social Needs Core Competency steering group meeting in Camden, New Jersey, where …
A Patient’s Perspective: Why the Bivalent Booster was Important to Me Read More »
by Chris Symolon, Director, COVID-19 Vaccination Project, Foundation for Healthy Communities, New Hampshire Welcome to 2023, a new year, a new start, a reset! I have been reflecting on the …
Perspectives of a Rural Health Advocate Guest Blog by Ronnie Rom, MSPH, CPHQ, Massachusetts Office of Rural Health While I didn’t grow up in a rural area, I lived for …
If You’ve Seen One Rural Community, You’ve Seen One Rural Community Read More »
By Jenna Cebelius, MPH, HAI Program Coordinator | Health Surveillance Epidemiologist, Division of Laboratory Sciences & Infectious Disease | Vermont Department of Health I meandered my way through several healthcare …
Once More into the Breach: Perspectives of an Epidemiologist Read More »
The COVID-19 Bivalent Booster is critical in preventing serious COVID-19 outcomes. Yet, Many are hesitant to get the vaccine. Hear from our experts addressing hesitancy and discussing strategies for vaccine …
Bivalent Booster Hesitancy? Set the Stage for Success! Read More »
by Erin Just, BScOT, MA, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Vermont Blueprint for Health In 2019, I welcomed identical twin boys. They arrived earlier than hoped, requiring medical intervention to improve their …
Raising Preemies During a Pandemic: Vaccines Protect The Most Vulnerable Read More »
By Sandra N. Colpitts MSN, RN, CIC, Manager, Infection Prevention and Control, South County Health, Wakefield, RI When I first became a nurse, I never imagined the adventures I would …
Walk Alongside the Community to Combat Vaccine Hesitancy Read More »
In November 2022, IPRO surveyed providers about their key challenges. In this series, the IPRO nursing home team will provide insights and suggestions related to boosters, National Healthcare Safety Network …
by Mary Ellen Casey, RN, Infection Preventionist, IPRO QIN-QIO As a college student I nearly drowned. A lifeguard saved my life. I will never forget being in the water, looking …
The Winter of our Discontent….or Maybe Not! Perspectives of an Infection Preventionist Read More »
It is a well-established fact: smoking leads to disease, disability, and harm in nearly every organ system. It has long been shown to cause cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, lung …
Now is the Time: A Compendium of Tools to Use for Great American Smokeout and Beyond Read More »
In this series, we will review factors that can contribute to readmissions and strategies to address these factors. Some topics to be discussed are C.Diff, Sepsis, UTIs, Dementia, Falls, Wound …
Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022 Start Time: 4:00 pm ET Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control for a National Nursing Home …
On September 23, 2022, the CDC updated its infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare personnel across all settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. A summary of recent changes includes: Updated …
This year, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) honors National Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be focusing on the nation’s 60.5 million …
August is Immunization Awareness Month. Make sure your team is armed with tools and strategies to launch an effective vaccine campaign. Join us for a one-hour virtual Learning Action Network …
Great Shot! Make Your Vaccine Campaign a Slam Dunk Read More »
Boosters & Beyond: Building QI Resilience! Recently, the IPRO Nursing Home Quality Improvement (QI) Team has received an increasing number of requests for QI support and education. Many administrators and …
Joy in Work, a framework by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, states an essential part of mitigating burnout and turnover, especially during these challenging times, is to focus on restoring …
Melanie Ronda, RN, MSN, host of our weekly IP3 Office Hours gets many questions each week. Here’s one that may resonate with you: Q: What is the definition of being “up-to-date” on …
As part of the IPRO QIN-QIO’s “From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back” weekly educational series, every Thursday we offer IP3 – Infection Prevention by an Infection Preventionist for Infection Preventionists. …
IP3 Resources: Vaccination Campaigns for Long-Term Care Facilities Read More »
Melanie Ronda, RN, MSN, host of our weekly IP3 Office Hours gets many questions each week. Here’s one that may resonate with you: Q: We started using N95 masks during …
The Challenge Access to care is an essential component of healthcare quality. It follows that ensuring access to care is one of the priorities emphasized by the Centers for Medicare …
Case Study: Improving Access to Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Read More »
What are the main changes? Simplifications COVID-19 vaccination data will no longer be reported by vaccine manufacturer for questions on primary vaccine series and additional/booster doses. Questions on vaccine supply …
Melanie Ronda, MSN, RN, host of our weekly IP3 Office Hours gets many questions each week. Here’s one that may resonate with you: Q: Our nursing home’s medical director has …
A possible solution to the challenge of workforce retention is to make sure that staff enjoy their work. But it goes further than just staff satisfaction levels. There is a …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: ‘From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back,’ a Webinar Series Read More »
The Biden-Harris Administration announced on April 4 that more than 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, now have access to Food …
Medicare Beneficiaries to Get Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Read More »
On April 6, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will pay for a second COVID-19 booster shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines …
Eligible Individuals Can Receive Second COVID-19 Booster Shot at No Cost Read More »
Effective October 20, 2021, FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for the Moderna and Jansen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines to allow for use of a single booster dose for …
New PSAs from the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative Speak to Those Still Hesitant About Vaccination Across Rural Communities In September 2021, incidence rates of COVID-19 in rural America were …
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? New Data Highlight …
Health Equity Hospital Highlights: October Newsletter Read More »
In this session, our nursing home experts will do a brief review of changes to NHSN. Following our “small talk” you’ll have the chance to discuss any challenges you’re experiencing …
IPRO QIN-QIO presents: NHSN Office Hours, October 14, 18, 20 Read More »
Join our 30-minute vaccine huddle meeting, to discuss optimizing influenza and COVID-19 booster dosing this Fall. Learn more about: Vaccine screening upon admission Administration of influenze, COVID-19 vaccines Fast facts …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: 30-Minute Vaccine Huddle for Nursing Homes, Oct. 19, 2021, 12 PM Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about …
CDC Updates Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Healthcare Settings Read More »
The New England Rural Health Association developed a COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging Campaign to help improve vaccination rates in our states and communities. Materials These materials focus on the business community and …
COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging for Rural Communities Read More »
Federally-Funded COVID-19 Testing Program What is Operation Expanded Testing? Operation Expanded Testing is a program supported and funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 …
New Program Announcement: Operation Expanded Testing Read More »
July 27, 2021 | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory The CDC is issuing this Health Alert Network Health Advisory to …
Continue to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence in hesitant patients by sharing this one-minute video featuring Dr. Gina Gregory-Burns explaining that the vaccines are effective and protective against variants. This video …
Ask a Doctor: What About the New COVID-19 Variants? Read More »
June 17, 2021 | On May 11, 2021, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period that added new COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements for nursing home staff and residents. …
CMS encourages nursing homes to continue COVID-19 vaccination rates Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently shared with immunization program mangers across the country the document “Increasing Access to Vaccination Opportunities: COVID-19 Vaccination upon Discharge from Hospitals, …
Action Could Impact as many as 1.6 Million People with Medicare As part of President Biden’s commitment to increasing access to vaccinations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) …
HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF) On May 3, 2021, HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced a new program covering the cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines …
On May 5, 2021, as a part of CMS’ ongoing COVID-19 response efforts to support the long-term care community, CMS debuted its first social media videos. The videos highlight staff, …
Stay up-to-date on new resources from the New York State Department of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare …
As of April 25, 2021, the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine resume in the United States. …
FDA & CDC Resume Use of the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Read More »
Dear Colleagues, The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the egregious and long-standing inequities that exist across the United States—inequities that have a profound effect on the physical, social, economic, and emotional …
A Letter from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Read More »
We’re sharing the following information from the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Updated: April 14, 2021 Why are the FDA and CDC recommending a pause in the …
Updated Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions Read More »
The IPRO QIN-QIO is sharing an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC and FDA recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 …
Pausing the Use of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine: Information for Long-Term-Care Facilities Read More »
Information Provided by the Anticoagulation Forum Following six reported cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine in the US, …
Resources on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Suspension Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert, about the CDC and FDA’s recommended pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. We’re …
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine: Health Alert Read More »
As COVID-19 vaccines continue rolling out across the country, CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers and keeping you updated on …
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources: Reaching Vulnerable Populations Read More »
Updates as of April 2, 2021 Highlights Fully vaccinated people can: Resume domestic travel Do not need to get tested before or after travel Do not need to self-quarantine after …
Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People Read More »
Stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 resources. This month, we’re highlighting new resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of …
It is so great that your mom, dad, or other loved ones have received their COVID-19 vaccine. This is an important step towards protecting their health, achieving herd immunity and …
Mom’s Vaccinated: When can I visit her nursing home? Read More »
CMS, CDC, and HHS released new guidance and resources related to the COVID-19 vaccine to serve our beneficiaries.
CMS – March 15, 2021 | Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. This new and higher …
Biden-Harris Administration Increases Medicare Payment for Life-Saving COVID-19 Vaccine Read More »
